Chapter 4

The bosses ended up being a husband and wife team. Tony Brewer, and Nancy Brewer. After introductions, I got a tour of the kitchen.

“I’ve been following your article series, it’s nice to get some outside intelligence on the competition,” Ms Brewer explained.

“I’ve never lived anywhere with restaurants this good. The sad thing is, I’m out of restaurants now.”

They glanced at each other, then both looked at me, “You don’t know who our silent investor is?” Mr Brewer asked.

“No, I just made a list of restaurants in town, and am eating my way thru it. Why is it important?”

Ms Brewer looked pensive, but Mr Brewer just smiled, “Your Aunt is an investor in most of the restaurants in town. She’s the one who convinced us to move here, and set us up with this location.”

“Joan is the best. I had opened a restaurant, just a little cafe, in the city and it wasn’t going well. Tony was growing his microbrewery, and needed room. She convinced us to combine our passions into one location, and set us up here in Salt Bush,” Ms Brewer explained.

“I knew about the Subway, but that’s all I knew about,” I explained.

They both burst into loud laughter. “The Subway? I think that’s the only franchise in town.”

“She bought it from somebody who was retiring,” I explained.

“Oh we know,” Mr Brewer said, “Joan’s original pitch was that we manage it, and add craft beer as an option. Subway management and the city both nixed the idea of alcohol sales at a place that was primarily a to-go restaurant.”

Ms Brewer added, “When she offered to fit me out with a custom kitchen and complete culinary freedom, I twisted his arm until he said yes.”

“It’s a beautiful kitchen, and usually I encourage the students to come to the restaurant that I review, but I’m wondering if that would be appropriate.”

“Probably not, even though it’s legal, as long as they don’t sit at the bar,” Mr Brewer said.

“We could have a student day. Pick one of the slower days of the week and feature the craft sodas Tony has started brewing. We would limit alcohol sales that day until after 10 pm,” Ms Brewer considered.

“I loved your cream soda, I’m a fan of Virgil’s and your’s was even better.”

Mr Brewer looked at Ms Brewer with a smile on his face, “We could make it an alcohol free day, and just close early.”

“That does sound nice,” she told him, then turned to me, “I hear that you like to pick up the recipe of your favorite item and are good at tracking down rare recipes as well.”

“Well, I would love to get a copy of your tater tot recipe, and I have offered a couple recipes to restaurants in town that either asked, or were looking for a specific kind of dish.”

“I’ll trade you my tater tot recipe, but Tony needs a better cola recipe.”

“Can I try what you have?” I asked.

Mr Brewer stepped out of the kitchen, and came back with a frosted mug and a giant dark brew. He gave it to me, and I took a sniff, then a swig. I started coughing.

“Definitely too sweet, and too acidic,” I said between coughs.

“I’ll find you a recipe, and a diet cola too, you’ll need it for the high school girls,” I said, handing the cup back, and coughing again. Ms Brewer gave me a glass of water that I gratefully accepted.

“I don’t know what I’m doing wrong. My root beer, cream soda, even my orange soda came out crazy good.”

“I’d love to help you brew a batch, that’s one thing I’ve never done. I’ve always relied on Boylan, Virgil’s or Reed’s to make my soda.”

“I think I can take on an apprentice for a new batch. I won’t entice you to the dark side, I like IPA’s too much,” he joked.

I smiled at them both, imagining my new adventure in brewing. I’m sure I could find the time, hopefully.

They walked me back to the table where Dad had just finished paying. “You have a fine son, Mr Atwood,” Mr Brewer told him.

Dad smiled at them, as I did the introductions, “Dad, Mr and Ms Brewer. They are the bosses and creators of Pub and Brew.”

Dad stuck his hand out, “Pete Atwood, and thank you. I’m rather proud of the man he’s becoming.”

“Call me Tony”

“I’m Nancy.”

Dad looked at me, “Did you get the recipe you were after?”

“Not yet. It’s a trade, I’m going to find him a regular and diet cola recipe for him to brew in exchange.”

“He also volunteered to assist Tony when he brews them,” Ms Brewer added.

“I really enjoyed my burger. I usually don’t drink much, but that pumpkin spice and that burger were entirely perfect together,” Dad told them.

“Dad’s not completely sold on the idea of food as an adventure yet, but great restaurants like this one are bringing him around,” I explained to them, then turned to Dad.

“Ms Brewer is the chef behind the amazing food recommendations for each beer, and Mr Brewer is behind the amazing variety of craft beers on tap and bottle,”

“I’m looking forward to trying more of the menu in the future,” Dad said, then turned to me, “You’ve got school in the morning so we should be heading home. Did you get all the pictures you need?”

“I’m good. I have a bit of homework to finish as well,” I turned to the couple, “Thank you again for the food, the tour, and the interview. I’ll discuss everything with my journalism teacher to see how to write the article. Worse comes to worse, I’ll submit it directly to the local paper, they’ve been doing reprints of my school paper articles.”